​"Dirt", by John Morello is a one-man show and coming of age tale. At times hysterical, poignant, moving, and inspiring, "Dirt" confronts the barriers that young people face every day and challenges the stereotypes we may hold about identity, mental health, drugs, addiction and bullying.

New York Times- "Mordantly funny...A new weapon in the war against bad choices: laughter. Gloriously irreverent laughter."

Through relatable and memorable characters drawn from a "high risk" childhood filled with addiction and loss, John Morello gives voice to those who may feel unheard. He does not preach, teach, or lecture; instead, by effortlessly blurring the lines between theatre, stand-up, and story-telling, he takes audiences on a journey that subtly asks them to recognize the importance of their unique story and the impact of their choices. "Dirt" distinguishes itself by displaying vulnerability and by bringing theatre back to basics; one person, seeking a connection, and acting out a story to an audience.

4th Wall Stage audiences will remember John Morello from starring in last season's production of "Awake and Sing!" as Moe Axelrod. This time around, Morello will be transforming himself into an entire cast of characters that each play an integral part of the thought- provoking piece that Morello has crafted himself.

Fitting beautifully with the mission of 4th Wall Stage Company; "Bringing thought- provoking American works to life that speak to our common humanity," John's candid writing and delivery bring "Dirt" to the caliber of theatre audiences anticipate from 4th Wall Stage Company productions and is sure to resonate with audience members of all ages.

WORCESTER — Worcester playwright and actor John Morello’s one-man coming-of-age show “Dirt” first started taking form with evening performances in small theaters.

For several years now, however, Morello has primarily been presenting his candid but inspiring work concerning the challenges and decisions that many young people face with issues related to drugs, bullying and self-esteem to audiences at middle and high schools across the country. His appearances are still very much relevant and in demand.

But with the 4th Wall Stage Company production Nov. 2-11 at the Sprinkler Factory, “Dirt” could be said to be going back to its theatrical roots, along with Morello.

The production right here in Worcester is actually a first.

“Not in a theatrical setting. Never in a night-of-theater setting,” Morello said when asked if he has put on “Dirt” in Worcester before.

The play has been seen at some local schools, including Worcester Academy and Claremont Academy in Worcester and Sutton High School, but not as many as you might assume. “I end up getting booked all over the country, but I don’t get booked very much in my hometown,” Morello said.

Telling the story to local audiences is more than appropriate, since it is around here that the story of “Dirt” first got started.

“Dirt” weaves different characters, teenagers and adults, in a forward-moving narrative.

Morello, 49, describes these characters as drawn from a “high risk” childhood — namely, his own.

He said his parents were from Worcester but moved to Detroit, where Morello was born. Later they divorced, and Morello came to Millbury with his father (Morello now lives in Worcester) when he moved back to the area.

“I didn’t show up in Millbury as the happiest kid,” Morello recalled. His older brother had been killed in an accident involving a drunken driver in Detroit. His other brother began a slide into drug addiction. Such was also the case among too many of Morello’s peers. “We lost so many to drugs and alcohol. It wasn’t being spoken about,” he said.

Morello feels he was at risk to succumb. “I could have very easily. I guess I feel really lucky. Seeing my brother go through that was like a kick in the butt. (I thought) ‘I’ve got to be the one kid in the family to make it through,’ ” he said.There was help. “I had a good teacher who reached out to me when I was failing all my classes.”

And theater was where Morello, after a couple of false starts, started out, earning a bachelor of arts in theater and communications from Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri.

But while he can act, “I can’t sing and dance,” he said, limiting his professional theater opportunities. “I started writing my own stuff,” he said. That initially took him to stand-up comedy, “then when that ran its course I started writing this show (‘Dirt’).”

Draft by draft it started to come together. “A couple of the monologues kind of synthesized everything into a show,” Morello said.

His brother “really liked what I was doing.” But he would never see the show. “He died in 2003 ... Overdose of heroin. He had been clean for a couple of years. I think that’s one of the things made me double down.”

Morello was able to take “Dirt” to a small theater in New Jersey for some performances. After one show, a guidance counselor approached him and invited Morello to put on “Dirt” at her high school, he recalled.

“It really ended up connecting with young people. They liked it. It wasn’t condescending, wasn’t preachy, but ended up making some good points.”

He was invited subsequently to a conference of guidance counselors. “When I walked off the stage there were 50 guidance counselors with calendars out. ‘Wow, this is a whole career I didn’t see coming.’ ”

Morello said he kept his day jobs for a while. He has washed windows in Worcester and had a nice gig as an actor/tour guide on trolleys in Boston.

Then “Dirt” became the day job. “This is pretty much all I’m doing now for 12 years. I’m really fortunate. It’s something I’m passionate about and has artistic and literary merit.”

“Dirt” has been performed in more than 40 states, as well as in Switzerland and “14 hours north of Montreal in Cree territory ... This dude from Central Massachusetts going to these regions. But when we tell these stories we find common ground in our stories,” Morello said.

He infuses the stories in “Dirt” with humor as a way of making contact and communicating. The New York Times has praised “Dirt” for “a new weapon in the war against bad choices: laughter. Gloriously irreverent laughter.”

“I feel if you can be funny you can take people anywhere,” Morello said. “I actually come out top heavy with the humor. I think it’s more interesting. It’s like real life. I’ve battled depression. When we feel bad we fight that, and we fight that with humor. I don’t want to make my characters cry, and I don’t want to make kids cry. With young people especially, humor goes a long way.”

With that there have been even more tears shed in families over drug overdoes in the 14 years since Morello’s brother died.

“If you look at just the numbers, the numbers of people addicted and overdosing has gone up,” Morello said. “I don’t really get into the politics, but it’s obvious our country ignored a big chunk of society. The weird thing is there are 10 times more people addicted than 10 years ago and the same amount of services.”

“Dirt” remains a work that can speak to adults as well as middle or high school students, Morello said.

“It transcends all cultures. It transcends all ages. It needs to be seen. It’s just riveting,” said Barbara Guertin, managing director of 4th Wall Stage Company.

She met Morello last spring when he auditioned for the 4th Wall production of Clifford Odets’ “Awake and Sing” at the Sprinkler Factory. Morello said he auditioned because he’s known William Sigalis, who directed “Awake and Sing,” for a long time.

Guertin was impressed with Morello’s tryout but also perplexed in a good way, as were several others who were on hand. “We were all a bit stupefied that he lived in Worcester and we had never heard of him before,” she said.​Morello was cast and received great notices (“What elevates this first-rate production to extraordinary heights is the sensational, bruised naturalism and film noir charisma Morello brings to the role of Moe,” wrote Paul Kolas for the Telegram & Gazette).

“I enjoyed getting back in touch with a traditional stage drama setting.” Morello said. He also liked the intimate Sprinkler Factory theater setting. “It’s just really great.” He told Guertin about “Dirt” and possibly staging it at that location. “I just threw it out there.”

Guertin went to see the show when Morello performed it at Sutton High School.

“I was rather curious about it. I wasn’t sure it would be for adult audiences. It turns out it is something that anyone at any age is going to be able to connect with,” Guertin said. “It’s funny and sad. You’ll be moved at the same time you’re laughing your head off.”